A17698:1778
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And we on our side have generally a very profitable lesson: which is this. As oft as we fall asleep and mind not Gods benefits so sufficiently as §50might make us to perceive his working & power: we must resort to his promises, that they may be as a light unto us to show us the good way. Let that serve for one point. And now by the way, we see how God uttered his power in multiplying the people after that fashion. For who would have looked that of threescore & ten persons there should have issued seven hundred thousand & above? It is incredible (if we look no further than to the course of nature) that in three hundred years, threescore §60& ten persons should increase & multiply to so great a number. Had there come of them ten thousand or twenty thousand, it might well have bin imputed to the course of nature. But when it came to a hundred thousand, or a two or three hundred thousand, yea & to so huge a number as seven hundred thousand; all men must needs be abashed at it, & it was not to be thought that ever it could have bin possible. But we must not measure Gods power by our wit: for it was his will to work after that strange & unaccustomed fashion, that men might be driven to think it to be his work. For if God work after an ordinary manner with us, we be so unthankful, that we take the thing to happen by chance, or by our own policy, or by some mans favour, or other mean which we have found in the world▪ & we bereave God continually of his honour. In deed we will not say that we purpose any such thing; nay, we protest the clean contrary: but yet for all that, men are so wickedly given, that they always deface Gods power & goodness to the uttermost that they can. God therefore is fain to bring us perforce to the acknowledging of his works, so as we must be compelled to confess that it is he which helpeth & succoureth us. Let us mark well then, that when he multiplied his people after that sort, he meant to work a miracle that had never bin looked for, to the intent that men should no more doubt that it was he that spake unto Abraham, & that he had not in vain promised him to become the defender of him & of all his offspring. Nowadays there are a sort of scoffers, who to make all things doubtful, will cavil after this manner; Is it possible that in so short a space of time, threescore & ten persons should grow to so huge a number as seven hundred thousand? Is it possible?